Preserving national identity through practical actions.

Nowadays, preserving national cultural identity is not limited to festivals or major events, but is also nurtured through specific actions in daily life, such as maintaining traditional crafts, preserving language, clothing, and cultural lifestyles within the community.

Women from La Thong hamlet (Dong Hy commune) sing then songs and play the tinh instrument on the tea hills.

We visited La Thong hamlet (Dong Hy commune) on an early summer afternoon to enjoy the melodies of Then singing and the sound of the Tinh lute played by the women of the La Thong hamlet Women's Association. From afar, the sound of the Tinh lute echoed across the fields, weaving through the lush green tea plantations, blending with the familiar melody of the song "The Song of the Tinh Lute in My Homeland".

That space brought back familiar memories for Ms. Ly Thi Thanh, a place where, during every festival and holiday, the sounds of traditional music and folk songs were an indispensable part of the people's spiritual life. Now, those sounds are once again being revived and resonating in contemporary life.

Ms. Ly Thi Thanh said: "In recent years, as life has gradually stabilized, women in the village have proactively restored and preserved the traditional cultural values ​​of the ethnic group. From small gatherings, still shy in each song, to now, the performance of Then singing and Tinh playing has become a familiar and cherished part of community life."

According to Ms. Trinh Thi Thu Hien, Head of the Women's Association in La Thong hamlet, stemming from a love for folk melodies and a desire to preserve the national cultural identity, the women initially practiced to participate in local cultural programs. Gradually, the passion spread, attracting more people to participate and forming a group that regularly engages in activities. In the future, the women hope to develop the group into a club to operate more systematically, so that the then melodies and the sounds of the tinh instrument are not only preserved but also continue to spread throughout the community.

The preservation of traditional crafts such as brocade weaving, traditional musical instrument making, and other handicrafts is receiving increasing attention in many localities. Beyond simply maintaining these crafts, artisans are actively passing on their knowledge to younger generations, preventing the loss of cultural values. Simultaneously, linking traditional crafts with tourism products and souvenirs opens up new avenues for development. This affirms that preserving traditional crafts is essentially preserving the soul of national culture.

Traditional ethnic costumes are still preserved by women in their daily lives.

At Thien An Cooperative in Phu Thong commune, preserving ethnic cultural identity is concretized through products with economic value. Using traditional brocade fabrics of the Dao people, the cooperative has developed many products such as bags, scarves, pillows, hats, and shirts… which both preserve cultural heritage and meet market demands. All products are handcrafted by local women, contributing to job creation for many ethnic minority women, providing them with a stable income of approximately 5 million VND per person per month.

Ms. Ly Thi Quyen, Director of Thien An Cooperative, said: "We want to develop traditional products in a modern direction, so that we can both preserve our identity and meet market demands."

According to Mr. Nguyen Chu Thu, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism: Along with heritage preservation, many localities in the province are focusing on educating the younger generation as a long-term solution to preserve national cultural identity. Through incorporating traditional cultural content into schools and organizing experiential activities such as learning folk songs and exploring handicrafts, students not only gain knowledge but also "touch" the culture through practical experiences. From there, love and pride in national identity are naturally and sustainably formed.

Cultural preservation is also being linked to modern development trends. Many traditional values ​​are being widely promoted on digital platforms, reaching a large audience, especially young people. Numerous localities have combined culture with community tourism, while simultaneously creating new products from traditional materials, preserving their unique characteristics while meeting market demands. These flexible approaches are contributing to the continued spread of national cultural identity and its adaptation to contemporary life.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202605/gin-giu-ban-sac-dan-toc-tu-nhung-viec-lam-thiet-thuc-da255e0/